The Hofstra wresting team, coming off an 11^th-place finish at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational last weekend, is ranked 20^th this week in the latest USA Today/ NWCA/ Intermat NCAA Division I Coaches Poll. The Pride return to the mat this Sunday, December 11 when they host both Harvard University and Columbia University at the Hofstra Arena beginning at 5 p.m.

The Pride slipped one spot this week to number 20 despite the solid showing in the 52-team tournament in Las Vegas. The Cowboys of Oklahoma State remain in the top spot but there was some movement in the top 10. Michigan, which captured the team title in Las Vegas, moved up one spot to number two this week while Oklahoma also moved up one place to third. Illinois, which placed sixth in Las Vegas, fell two spots to fourth while Minnesota and Iowa each moved up one spot to fifth and sixth, respectively. Iowa State slipped two to seventh place, Cornell jumped three to eighth, while Central Michigan and Lehigh remain at ninth and tenth, respectively.

Individually, the Pride has three wrestlers ranked in the top 20 in their respective weight classes led by senior Mike Patrovich. The senior from Bohemia, New York, who was named the Colonial Athletic Association Co-Wrestler of the Week for his second place finish in Las Vegas and his 11-1 record this year, is ranked seventh at 174 pounds this week. Sophomore Joe Rovelli, who placed sixth in Las Vegas, is ranked 15^th at 184 pounds. Junior James Strouse, who placed seventh in Las Vegas, is ranked 19^th at 157 pounds.

This weekend at the Hofstra Arena, a couple of key matches will be wrestled that could move Pride wrestlers up in the rankings at 133 pounds, Pride senior Ricky LaForge will face ninth-ranked Harvard junior Robbie Preston. At 141 pounds, sophomore Charles Griffin will make his Hofstra dual match debut this season with a battle against Harvard junior Max Meltzer. At 174 pounds, number seven Mike Patrovich will face Columbia's sixth-ranked junior Matt Palmer. At 184, number 15 Joe Rovelli squares off against Harvard's 19^th-ranked freshman Louis Caputo. At heavyweight, Hofstra junior Jon Andriac will face Harvard's eight-ranked junior Bode Ogunwole, who placed fifth in Las Vegas. The Crimson placed 17^th in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational while Columbia was 41^st.

USAToday/NWCA/InterMat NCAA Div I Coaches' Poll